Initial residency determination for tuition purposes of any student enrolling at Colorado State University is determined by the Office of Admissions. To be initially considered for in-state classification you must answer all residency questions completely and accurately on the application; failure to do so will result in classification as out-of-state for tuition purposes.

Individuals who have been classified as non-resident and want to change their classification from out-of-state to in-state classification must complete a "Petition for In-State Tuition Classification". Petitions are available at Student Financial Services. Petitions and all supporting documentation must be received by Student Financial Services by the published deadline date specified for the semester for which a change is being requested. The burden of proof rests upon the petitioner who has the responsibility to submit a timely petition along with the required documentation by the published deadline date. A change in tuition classification will be made when the Tuition Classification Officer is convinced that physical presence and ties with the state have occurred at least 12 months prior to the first day of classes for which the applicant is petitioning.

A student's current tuition classification will remain until they have received notification from the Student Financial Services Tuition Classification Officer indicating a residency change has been approved. Students who are petitioning for in-state classification remain responsible for paying their tuition based upon current tuition classification. Students are strongly urged to petition during the "Priority decision deadline" in order to receive a response of their tuition classification prior to the beginning of the semester and tuition and fee deadlines.

Petition completion can be very challenging and will require considerable time and effort on your part to accurately respond to all questions and to gather and submit the required documentation. Allow ample time to gather all the necessary information and documentation; failure to do so may delay processing and may result in rejection of your petition.

Student Financial Services must receive completed petitions no later than the published deadline date for the semester for which you are petitioning (see Petition Deadlines). Petitions will not be accepted after the published deadline date and incomplete petitions will not be accepted and/or reviewed for that semester, and your tuition classification and tuition assessment will remain nonresident for that term. By statute, the Tuition Classification Officer is not permitted to make exceptions.

Petitioners will be notified of the results of their petition by mail. Please allow up to six weeks for notification. If additional information is required, the additional information must be submitted within 15 days from the original petition unless special arrangements are made with the Tuition Classification Officer.

Decisions made by the Tuition Classification Officer may be appealed by the University's Residency Appeals Committee. A student wanting to appeal the decision to the Residency Appeals Committee must contact Student Financial Services no later than two weeks (10 business days) after the date of the letter in which the decision was conveyed to the petitioner. The decision of the Residency Appeals Committee is the final University determination for that specific semester. In addition, there are no provisions in the Tuition Classification Statutes for retroactive compliance.

The fact that you do not qualify for in-state status in any other state does not guarantee in-state status in Colorado; in-state classification is governed solely by Colorado statute. The tuition classification statute places the burden of proof on the petitioner to provide clear and convincing evidence of eligibility.

Any student who provides false information to avoid paying out-of-state tuition may be subject to legal and/or disciplinary actions.